The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1887-05-18
NATIONAL BATH TUBS.
HOW CoNGREssMEN WASH THEM.
SELVES AT PUBLIC EXPENSE.
and Bathrooms in the Base
inent of the Capitol-Elaborate Provision
Made for the Additions of Members
Aquatic Habits of Statesmen.
Icopvriqhled, 1ss7.l

the tariff question the majority of the peo-
pie of the country would not perhaps have
known that such thing as bathing ap-
paratus existed in the Capitol of the
| United States. In both branches of Con-
| gress the bath-tubs and barber-shops are
one of the greatest conyeniences given to
members. The House naturally, as it has
the largest membership, has the best ar
rangement for cleanliness, and the mem
bers seem to take the greatest pleasure in
using 1t.
Senators are very exclusive in their use
of the bathrooms, as none but themselves
are allowed to battle there. The House is
more liberal A member can give his
constituents tickets for free bath when
ever he wishes The employees of the
House, about 300 in number, also have
bathing privileges, though their tubs
are separate from those used by mem
bers of the House. When member
wants to clean one of his constituents
he will apply to the chief clerk of the
House for a bath ticket and present
1t to his friend, and send him down to the
cellar where the tubs are, and he will be
rubbed, bathed and cleansed in manner
unexcelled in this country.
About eight years ago the bathrooms
of the House were on the first floor in
one of the small rooms now occupied by
the restaurant, but there being SO many
large members the water splashed over
the floors and leaked through to the floor
below, making 1t damp then Congress
decided to move the whole establish
ment to the cellar. They occupy one of
the corners of the building. The elevator
goes to within few feet of the bathroom,
and member can get out and walk
to an ante-room, where he win find
an attendant waiting. The baths in
the House are the most luxurious
Six rooms with various kinds and de-
vices of bath-tubs occupy one long
hall. These are exclusively for members
and their friends. During the sessions
three men are employed especially to look
after the comforts of the congressman !;
but during the recess only two are there
daily. One of the attendants is a chirop-
odist, and when a member wants his feet
handled, or bunions cured, he need only
apply to him. Robert Richardson is the
chief tonsorial artist He has desk in
the hall, and registers every congressman
that comes there for the bath. At the
far end of the corridor Is what is known
as the steam BATH II is small room
having an ordinary wooden lounge
with open-work wicker pillow. The
member is placed on this and hot air
turned on, and his body is thus well
steamed. The ordinary process of the
Turkish bath Is then followed.
The next room is large comfortably
carpetcd apartment with gigantic mar
BILE bath tub This tub occupies one side of
the room, and will accommodate the
largest congressman with ease. The man
who weighed the most in Congress last
session was Barnes, of Georgia, and he
would appear a mere minnow in this tub;
:'. TIC Ma s5oya bs a. marked N out s1'-
and LAWYER, of Chicago, would be lost mi
The next room has a similar marble bath
tub, but not quite aslarge. The third room
is smaller and has an ordinary wooden tub
with zinc lining This is for the little
men of the House, and If Ben lie Fevre,
OF Ohio,or Reagan, of Texas, attempted to
get in II they would find it impossible
The fourth room has q porcelain tub
quite large, and in this room Congress-
man Reagan had his famous bath. The
fifth room has wooden bath-tub, with
porcelain inning, ana II 9uite iavorlle
with some members. auloin,ng inns COT
riaor Is announcer enc WIN iVe pa,n-rooms'
Ihey are sihail anu vi INC Emu oIuinar-
lily seen IN Dath-houses ana IN parDer-
shops. These are USED only by the en-
ployees or the House.
A member II he wishes bath can nave
one of the attendants to scrub, battle and
rub him down. Often when congress-
man has been out over night ana reefs
nervous and shaky, II he goes down IN
the morning and takes steam bath ana
then gets one OF the attendants to put
him in the marble tub and let him SOAK,
when he comes out he would be as fresh
as daisy without the least taint OF ner-
vousness or midnight pleasure. Rooms
with the marble Dath-tuD OF course are
the favorites with the congressman, Dur
ing INC sessloh ~ Is nos al uhcVnhhoi
sight on Friday and Saturday OF each
week TO notice AZ least eight or ten con-
gressmen sitting IN the ante-rooms wait.
ing their turns for the bath. some OF
them VIII wait an hour or even TWO
hours for their turn In one OF the marble
path-tubs
II VIII interest some no doubt 70 Know
that the United states imported THESE
Two large TUBS at cost Oh $lio each.
iney nave become sucn Iavorites tnat tne
attendants Oh the path-rooms eApect Con-
Sress next session 70 pass Dill importing
Ihree more NIL up the other rooms. zen
srally when congressman wants con-
stituent to ENJOY the injuries OF con-
sressionai path ne VIII let MN occupy
one OF the smaller rooms ana take tne
marble bath himself. IL mas become
lutte feature Tor congressman 70 give
'heir constituents, when tney come 70
own, natllnV tickets, ana IL IS Salu tnut